Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(1):153-68.Antiviral Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) Against Enterovirus 71.
Wu BW, Pan TL, Leu YL, Chang YK, Tai PJ, Lin KH, Horng JT.
Department of Biochemistry, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, ROC.
In this study, the antiviral activities of seven different extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) were determined. The first two extracts, SA1 and SA2, isolated at room temperature by ethyl acetate and water extraction, respectively, neutralized the enterovirus 71-induced cytopathic effect in Vero, rhabdomyosarcoma and MRC-5 cells. The other five crude extracts, extracted with warm water (60-70 degrees C) or organic solvents, did not have any protective activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations for neutralizing the enterovirus 71-induced cytopathic effect were 0.742 +/- 0.042 mg/ml for SA1 and 0.585 +/- 0.018 mg/ml for SA2 in Vero cells. No antiviral activity was observed in the other viruses tested. Antiviral activity was more efficient in cultures treated with SA1 or SA2 during viral infection compared to the cultures treated before or after infection, suggesting that these danshen extracts could interfere with viral entry. SA1 and SA2 were able to inhibit viral RNA synthesis in the infected cells and to abate the apoptotic process in enterovirus 71-infected Vero cells. We conclude that danshen extracts possess antiviral activity and have potential for the development as an anti-enterovirus 71 agent.

Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2006 Nov;5(4):501-4.Progress in research into the mechanism of Radix salviae miltiorrhizae in treatment of acute pancreatitis.
Zhang XP, Li ZJ, Liu DR.
Department of General Surgery, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310006, China.
BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdomen with high mortality, multiple complications and complicated causes. There is no effective therapy for AP. Radix salviae miltiorrhizae (Danshen), a traditional herbal medicine, has a low price and a wide range of clinical applications. It is effective to promote blood flow, eliminate stagnancy, and relieve pain. It is also found to be effective in treating AP. We reviewed the progress in research into the mechanism of Radix salviae miltiorrhizae in treatment of AP. DATA SOURCES: An English-language literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1988-2005) on Radix salviae miltiorrhizae (Danshen) and acute pancreatitis. RESULTS: The mechanisms of Danshen in the treatment of AP include improvement of microcirculatory disturbances; elimination of oxygen free radicals; modulation of the metabolism of lipid inflammatory mediator; and blocking of calcium inflow and prevention of calcium overload. CONCLUSION: Danshen can effectively reduce the mortality and complications of AP.

Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2007 Jan;5(1):28-31.Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with severe acute pancreatitis [Article in Chinese]
Peng GL, Zhang XY.
Department of Gastroenterology, Yingtan 184 Hospital, Yingtan, Jiangxi Province 335000, China.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on serum levels of cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Thirty-six SAP patients were randomly divided into Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group and non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group with eighteen patients in each group. Fourteen age-matched healthy volunteers were assigned to control group. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were tested within 24 hours of admission and 7 days after admission. RESULTS: Compared with those of the healthy volunteers, serum levels of the three cytokines of the SAP patients were significantly elevated (P<0.05). Serum levels of the three cytokines were significantly decreased in both Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group and non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group after 7-day treatment (P<0.05). The declining of the serum levels of the three cytokines in Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group was more obvious than that in non-Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza can treat SAP patients by reducing the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha.

Arch Pharm Res. 2006 Sep;29(9):762-7Natural compounds from Danshen suppress the activity of hepatic stellate cells.
Oh SH, Cho KH, Yang BS, Roh YK.
Department of Family Medicine, Korea University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Danshen is an herbal medication frequently used in oriental medicine to treat liver or kidney malfunction. In the course of our studies, we observed that compounds purified from Danshen exhibit an inhibitory activity against Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2) tyrosine kinase. Through this inhibition, these compounds also inhibited the growth of HSC T6 cells and suppressed the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and MMP2, as well as collagen synthesis, all of which are increased in activated liver stellate cells. Given that activation of liver stellate cells is the hallmark of liver fibrosis and that DDR2 plays a critical role in this activation, these results suggest that one of the pharmacological activities of Danshen extract that protects the liver is the inhibition of key cell-signaling kinases, such as DDR2, in liver stellate cells.

Planta Med 1999 Oct;65(7):654-5Inhibition of mast cell degranulation by tanshinones from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Ryu SY, Oak MH, Kim KM.
The activity-guided fractionation of the extract of the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza B. (Labiatae, Tanshen), led to the isolation of four active components responsible for the anti-allergic activity in vitro. Among them, 15,16-dihydrotanshinone-1 and cryptotanshinone demonstrated significant inhibition of the release of beta-hexosaminidase from cultured RBL-2H3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.